University of Virginia Library

2. LETTER II.
REMESES TO HIS BROTHER.

A year has passed, my brother, since I last wrote to
you. In the mean while I have received your very kind
epistle. It reached me at Tyre, where I found it awaiting
me, on my return from the expedition against Cyprus.
You have probably learned the result of the war,
and that Prince Sesostris landed his army, defeated
the King of Cyprus in a pitched battle, taking his battalion
of chariots, which were armed with scythes, and
destroying his cavalry. The king implored peace, and
surrendered his capital. Sesostris, after levying a tribute
of two thousand talents of silver upon it for ten
years, and demanding a portion of the island, on the
north, for a Phœnician colony, returned triumphant to
his country.

I am now travelling through the whole of Syria. From
this point I shall proceed to the province of Uz. I desire
to know more fully this wisdom of the One God,
the Almighty, as taught by the Sage of that land.
When I saw him in Damascus, a year ago, I informed
him that I had begun to write an account of the wonderful
incidents of his life; but when I read to him what I
had commenced, and afterwards heard his conversation

upon the God he worshipped, I perceived that I was a
child in ignorance, and had entered upon a task impossible
for me to perform, by reason of my religious education
as an Egyptian.

“My son,” he said, “thou art not far from the knowledge
of the Almighty, and thy soul aspires after the true
God. Come with me to my own land, for thou sayest
thou art a wanderer, and I will teach thee the knowledge
of the Holy One. Then thou mayest write the
acts of the Invisible to man, and justify Him in His ways
to me, His servant. The gods of Egypt darken knowledge,
and veil the understanding of those who trust in
them, and say to an idol of gold, `Thou art my god.”'

I am now journeying, O my brother, to sit at the feet
of this man of God, whose simple wisdom has enlightened
my soul more than all the learning of Egypt; nay,
I would gladly forget all the knowledge I obtained in
Egypt, to know, and fear, and love the “Holy One”—
the Almighty God—of the Prince of Uz. What is particularly
worthy of note is, that his views of the Invisible
are the same as those which you taught me were
held by the elders among our people; and of the truth
of which you so eloquently and feelingly endeavored to
convince me, on the evening before my departure from
Egypt, as we sat by the door of our mother's home,
under the two palms. Dissatisfied with the gods of
Egypt, and the emptiness and vanity of its worship, as
not meeting the wants of man, I turn to any source
which will pour the light of truth into my soul. We
both; brother, are feeling after God, if haply we may
find Him; for I perceive that your own soul is darkened
and clouded as well as mine, by the dark myths of

Egypt, in which we have been educated. But let us
both take courage, my noble elder brother. There is
light, there is truth, there is knowledge somewhere
on earth! and I go to the aged Prince of Uz to learn of
him. Sitting at his feet, I will empty myself of all the
false and unsatisfying wisdom of Egypt, and meekly
say, “I am ignorant—enlighten me! Teach me concerning
thy God, for I know that He is the God my
soul longs for, whom the nations know not!”

Your letter spoke of Pharaoh, and his cruelty and
power. I am prepared to hear that he takes new measures
to heap burdens upon our people. The Lake
Amense, which you say he is enlarging to an inland
sea, will destroy thousands of the Hebrews whom you
tell me he is putting to the work; for, unaccustomed
to labor in the water, they must perish miserably. I
trust he will suffer you and my father's family to dwell
unmolested. Be prepared at any moment to escape,
should he seek to destroy the prosperity in which the
beloved queen left you, and those dear to me by the
sacred and affectionate ties of nature.

Farewell.